Method and apparatus for providing access to real time control protocol information for improved media quality control

Abstract

Various embodiments provide methods and systems operable to provide access to real time control protocol (RTCP) information for improved media quality control. An example embodiment includes a message processor to receive a message, the message including information indicative of an RTP port identifier, and to add to the received message information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier; and a message communication component to communicate the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier to a node.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving a message, the message including information indicative of a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) port identifier, the message also including information indicative of a primary Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier; 
 adding to the received message information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, the auxiliary RTCP port identifier being different from the primary RTCP port identifier; and 
 communicating the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier to a node, wherein an auxiliary RTCP port identified in the information indicative of the auxiliary RTCP port identifier is used to convey call/media status information to the node. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to an originating gateway node. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a target gateway node. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a third party node. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the information indicative of art auxiliary RTCP port identifier includes information indicative of a node address. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving a message, the message including information indicative of a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) port identifier, the message also including information indicative of a primary Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier; 
 means for adding to the received message information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, the auxiliary RTCP port identifier being different from the primary RTCP port identifier; and 
 means for communicating the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier to a node, wherein an auxiliary RTCP port identified in the information indicative of the auxiliary RTCP port identifier is used to convey call/media status information to the node. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to an originating gateway node. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a target gateway node. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a third party node. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier includes information indicative of a node address. 
     
     
       11. A node Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) information generator comprising:
 a message processor to receive a message, the message including information indicative of a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) port identifier, the message also including information indicative of a primary RTCP port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, and to add to the received message information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, the auxiliary RTCP port identifier being different from the primary RTCP port identifier; and 
 a message communication component to communicate the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier to a node, wherein an auxiliary RTCP port identified in the information indicative of the auxiliary RTCP port identifier is used to convey call/media status information to the node. 
 
     
     
       12. The node RTCP information generator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to an originating gateway node. 
     
     
       13. The node RTCP information generator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a target gate ay node. 
     
     
       14. The node RTCP information generator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a third party node. 
     
     
       15. The node RTCP information generator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier includes information indicative of a node address. 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 a plurality of network elements including a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call originator and a VoIP call destination, each of the plurality of network elements including a message processor to receive a message, the message including information indicative of a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) port identifier, the message also including information indicative of a primary Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, the message processor further to add to the received message information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier associated with the RTP port identifier, the auxiliary RTCP port identifier being different from the primary RTCP port identifier, each of the plurality of network elements further including a message communication component to communicate the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier to a node, wherein an auxiliary RTCP port identified in the information indicative of the auxiliary RTCP port identifier is used to convey call/media status information to the node. 
 
     
     
       17. The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to an originating gateway node. 
     
     
       18. The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a target gateway node. 
     
     
       19. The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier is communicated to a third party node. 
     
     
       20. The system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the information indicative of an auxiliary RTCP port identifier includes information indicative of a node address.